The other side of the Boldt story

On Feb 13, 2024, the Skagit Valley Herald printed a story titled “Effects of the Boldt Decision Felt 50 Years Later,” showing the same bias Judge Boldt had to begin with in 1974.

Article 5 of the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty had one sentence dealing with fishing rights for Indians. There are twenty-six words in that sentence. The Herald chose to print the first 13 words which states “Tribes reserved the right to fish at usual and accustomed grounds and stations ... .” The last eight words the Herald wouldn’t print say, “... in common with all citizens of the Territory.”

The dictionary says, “in common” means “equal,” not one percent of the populace gets 50 percent of the resource. If the writer of the treaty wanted the tribes to have half of anything, they would have said so. The present quota for the tribes on the Skagit River for steelhead is 261 fish. The present quota for the rest of the citizens is zero and if you get caught trying to keep one to eat, the state will confiscate your gear, boat, truck and everything else used in catching it.

That’s the effect of the Boldt Decision 50 years later.

Denny Sather

Pleasant Ridge

(The first 26 words of the treaty’s Article 5 are: “The right of taking fish at usual and accustomed grounds and stations is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory.” – ed.)